Russia cutting off oil?

[DodgyAgent]

Russia will go after Ukraine for sure - those dictator scumbags always escalate (Hitler also sounded half reasonable in taking over territories to "protect German citizens"), Ukraine is like Austria - Putin and his mates just wait for new president there that would play on their side.

Immediate sanctions on all members of Russian Govt, "Parliament", rich mates of Putin are necessary - check all their bank accounts for money laundering, FFS, when my sister was here 2 years ago I could not open her bank account with a handful of cash - and those ****ers bring in billions and nobody is asking them questions about money laundering.

It is insane to depend on dictators for essential stuff - if they were selling banans then it would not be so bad, but to have energy dependance knowing that the money you pay will go to arm the regime is crazy.

Where does it stop AtW? The Russian people want Russia to reassert itself, but just how far will they go? Invading Georgia is one thing but would not invading Ukraine lead to out and out war with the West?

[sasguru]

Russians want to assert themselves against the on rush of NATO but I cannot see them going so far as to spite their noses off to spite their faces by committing to all out war.

.

By the same token neither will the US. So they will come to some "agreement". And that agreement will necessarily involve Russia reclaiming all former Soviet territories.

HTH.

[Incognito]

Where does it stop AtW? The Russian people want Russia to reassert itself, but just how far will they go? Invading Georgia is one thing but would not invading Ukraine lead to out and out war with the West?

At the moment, no. They're not members of NATO and as others have stated, it's just posturing at the moment.

Poland, now that's a different story.

[ace00]

By the same token neither will the US. So they will come to some "agreement". And that agreement will necessarily involve Russia reclaiming all former Soviet territories.

HTH.

All former territory? I don't think so.

[snaw]

At the moment, no. They're not members of NATO and as others have stated, it's just posturing at the moment.

Poland, now that's a different story.

Poland is in NATO. An attack on any NATO member is seen as an attack on all, and defensive measures are assured. That's the whole point. Don't think Russia is that crazy - either it's mutual self assured destruction, or a massive arse kicking.

[sasguru]

All former territory? I don't think so.

Well the bits they want. There's nothing we can do about it.
They must be cackling in the Kremlin when the EU talks about sanctions - we need their stuff (gas, oil) more than they need ours.
Welcome to realpolitik.

[DodgyAgent]

By the same token neither will the US. So they will come to some "agreement". And that agreement will necessarily involve Russia reclaiming all former Soviet territories.

HTH.

Does that include Eastern Europe?

[Incognito]

Poland is in NATO. An attack on any NATO member is seen as an attack on all, and defensive measures are assured. That's the whole point. Don't think Russia is that crazy - either it's mutual self assured destruction, or a massive arse kicking.

Is that not what I said? We were talking about Ukraine.

[sasguru]

Does that include Eastern Europe?

See above. They'll keep control of the bits they want, even if not directly.

[snaw]

Is that not what I said? We were talking about Ukraine.

Yeah, think I misunderstood your point. Fair doos, I'm on a roll today.